A Deal With The Vampire King

DANIELLA

Six months later...

My fever reached its peak at noon. Zoey's eyes were wide with fear as she wiped the blood trickling from my lips. Her hands trembled as she dipped the bloodied cloth into a basin of water, rinsing it before bringing it to my lips again.

Her gaze kept darting toward the door.

“What the hell is taking Dr. Peterson so long?” she scowled, voice brimming with frustration. “I thought he said he was coming home early. I've called him five times already, but he's not picking up.”

I wanted to tell her not to get her hopes up about the doctor, but it seemed to be the only thing keeping her from falling apart completely.

Zoey's throat bobbed twice when her eyes settled on the blood at my lips. She swallowed hard before forcing her gaze down to the water basin.

My chest tightened at the sight. After graduation, Zoey had returned to the Thorne household as a full-time servant. As a lower-class vampire, she barely had access to enough blood to sustain herself and had survived in college by feeding on me.

What would happen to her if I died?

A tear slipped down my cheek as I reached for her cool hand. Her eyes instantly turned teary when they met mine.

“Hey, everything's going to be fine,” I whispered weakly. “You still remember what I told you last week, right?”

Zoey's face hardened after she heard my question. She pulled her hand away from my grip and snapped. “You better get that thought out of your freaking mind, Daniella. I'd rather die than drain my dying friend just because I'm hungry.”

I sighed.

“We both know there's no hope for me,” I murmured. “If one of us has to survive, then I want it to be you.”

“Stop saying those depressing words,” she chided me, tears freely falling down her cheeks. “We both know there's a way for you to survive. You just have to meet that selfish Alpha King and revive the mate bond with him.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. It wasn't that I didn't want to revive the mate bond, but Levi had already made it clear he would end me the moment I appeared before him again.

If it wasn't for Zoey's brilliant idea to hide me in the city, I would have died a long time ago. The first three months of distance had been very brutal for me. My chest felt hollow, like something important was missing. I even had dreams about Levi during the night but the visions slowly faded away.

Just like the mate bond.

While I was dying from a fractured mate bond in a desolate part of the capital, Zoey brought me news that Levi had fully cemented his position as Alpha King. The Three Realms Alliance praised him as one of the most formidable rulers the supernatural world had seen in centuries. But there was no news about him taking a Luna Queen, so Zoey thought there was still hope.

She must have seen the hesitation on my face because she reached for me again. “C'mon, Daniella. Don't tell me you're giving up without a fight? What happened to fighting for your life? For us?”

That's right. I had plans to get filthy rich, take care of my parents and buy Zoey's freedom one day.

How did my life turn out like this?

My thoughts broke when I heard a knock on the door. Zoey's expression brightened with hope as she vanished by my side, reappearing at the door a heartbeat later.

“Mr Harrison, we have been waiting for you—”

A loud gasp escaped her lips, causing me to turn around. There weren't a lot of things in the world that scared Zoey, but whoever she had seen had made her terrifyingly pale.

“Y-Your...”

I forced myself to rise from bed despite the pain racking my entire body. Switching on the UV emergency light, I walked towards my best friend with a silver dagger hidden under my shirt.

“Zoey, who is at the door?” I asked.

It was only when I finally reached the door that I understood why she was frozen. My eyes widened with shock when I saw the person standing at my door.

This couldn't be real.

The man at my door... was Matthias Alistair Thorne.

He wore a dark blue coat that fell cleanly on his tall frame along with matching pants. His silver white hair was combed back neatly, framing a pale face with strong, sharp features. His eyes were calm and piercing, staring at me with an intensity that sent a cold chill down my spine.

I sucked in a sharp breath. “M-Matthias...”

“In the flesh,” He smiled, voice smooth as silk. “It was very difficult to find you, Daniella. I have been searching for you for almost four months.”

Searching for me? “But why?”

“Because you are the rightful Luna Queen,” Matthias replied. “Don't tell me you were planning on dying here in a desolate area?”

I was rendered speechless by his question. A suspicious thought floated in my mind about Zoey revealing my whereabouts, but she looked as shocked I was.

Matthias's smile turned into a grimace when the scent of garlic floated into his nostrils. However he didn't move.

“Really?”

Embarrassment flickered through me. “How may I help you, Prince Matthias?”

“It's King Matthias!” Zoey hissed under her breath. “He was coronated a month ago!”

I blinked.

Matthias waved a hand dismissively. “It's fine. I came here to discuss a matter of mutual interest.”

The alarm bells in my mind rang when I heard his words. What business could a vampire king want to discuss with me? Was this about Levi?

Matthias noticed my hesitation.

“Relax, redhead,” he said, raising his hands. “The Three Realms Alliance is throwing a party in the werewolf lands. I will help you meet Levi on one condition.”

My heart pounded hard in my chest. I knew I shouldn't be making deals with this dangerous vampire, but this was a chance to save my life.

So I took a step towards him, stepping out of the protection of my apartment.

“Name your price.”